Severe weather warning: Gale force winds to hit Sydney

Michael Koziol

Wind gusts of up to 110km/h an hour are expected in Sydney and the Blue Mountains today as a cold front moves through much of south-east Australia.

The Bureau of Meteorology renewed its severe weather warning this morning, forecasting damaging winds across the metropolitan area and the south-east of the state.

Sydneysiders are waking up to winds averaging 40 to 50 km/h, with gusts of 59 km/h recorded this morning at Sydney Airport and Kurnell. Winds are expected to intensify throughout the morning and peak mid-afternoon, with main gusts reaching reach 80 to 90 km/h in the city, mainly along the coast.

The bureau is advising people to move vehicles under cover, secure loose items and stay away from fallen power lines.

No storm activity is predicted and the bureau advises just a 10 per cent chance of rain in the Sydney area, with the temperature peaking at 17 degrees.

"For the city itself, the actual day will be mostly sunny compared to yesterday," said Max Gonzalez, a meteorologist with Weatherzone. "Most of the rain actually fell over the ranges."

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Winds will die down in the evening ahead of an overnight lull, but are expected to pick up again Wednesday, although not as strong. Thursday and Friday will be calmer before a windy but dry weekend returns.

The conditions are welcome news for skiers. Up to 40 cm of snow has already fallen in the Snowy Mountains and will continue throughout the day. Some snowfall is also expected in the Brindabella Valley outside Canberra, Mr Gonzalez said.

And snowflakes have been spotted at Blackheath in the Blue Mountains this morning.

It's now been snowing lightly and continually in #Blackheath for ten minutes. Still only pea sized flakes but filling the sky now.